Home > Vintage Velo

Vintage Velo: Cinelli 1A road stem

In the 70s and most of the 80s, it was hard to find a serious road bike with out the Cinelli 1A road stem.

In the 70s and most of the 80s, it was hard to find a serious road bike without the Cinelli 1A road stem. The stem was popular because it was well made, available in a broad range of lengths and, perhaps most important, it was beautiful. Some might even say that the proportions were perfect; the stem just looked right. Unlike some vintage (and modern) cycling products that offer similar emotional appeal, the 1A worked flawlessly. The stem was exceptionally rigid even in longer lengths; the simple clamping mechanism prevented the bars from rotating even during the hardest sprints. At about the same time, Cinelli introduced a sleeker (and possibly more attractive) 1R stem, but its less effective bar-clamping system only ensured the continued popularity of the more functional 1A. The 1A’s iconic shape was eventually mimicked by most manufactures. Perhaps the best version came from the Japanese aluminum-forging masters Nitto with their aptly named Pearl stem. The 1A was eventually discontinued when threadless-style headsets and their dedicated stems became popular; however, interest in high-quality quill stems continued. Nitto never ceased production of their Pearl stem. Cinelli has recently reintroduced the 1A, validating the notion that there is always demand for elegantly designed bike products.